Page 11 of The Marriage Demand

Ten Years Later

“Tell me again why I have to wear this thing?”

Elias asked, looking down at the garish Christmas sweater his wife insisted he wear. His had a reindeer on the center, with pom-poms of white balls all around it. There was no way anyone in the world would take him seriously.

He should have known this was coming. Ten years ago, his wife had started this tradition. Each year, she purchased sweaters for him, as well as their children, and they would have to wear them and get their picture taken. The sweaters always had a garish design on them, but his wife loved to do it.

“Come on, Dad, you look hot,”

his son Elliot said. Ten years old with a smart mouth and way too much wit about him.

“I like it. I look like a princess, don’t I, Daddy?”

That was his little girl, Bernice.

And then, he looked toward his youngest son, Simon, who kept pulling at the sweater with a sneer on his face.

“It looks ugly,”

Simon said.

Elliot laughed.

Elias looked at his kids.

Their four dogs were snuggled together at the fireplace. Along with their very old Dobermans, they had a Jack Russell and a cocker spaniel. Again, he didn’t know how he ended up with four dogs.

Winnie came out of the kitchen with her camera and a big smile on her face. Also, she was a little red-faced, and one of her hands went to her swollen stomach.

“Are you all right, baby?” he asked.

“Yeah, yeah, our second princess is going to be into soccer. Her kick is the stuff of legends.”

He couldn’t help but smile. From the moment he got his wife pregnant, it was one of their many favorite hobbies. He loved getting her pregnant. He loved watching her flourish and glow. She was stunning. Also, his wife was an amazing mother. Loving, supportive, and everything he knew she would be.

Fourteen years ago, he met his wife, as she fought against being raped. He killed all those responsible, took her as his wife, and at the time it had felt like the craziest, stupidest decision he could have ever made.

Instead, it was the best thing he ever did.

The End